Step 1
Remove bottom seat cushion by prying up rather firmly, then remove side bolsters by pushing them up into the seatbelt cover to release the bottom catch and then pull out to release the top. Next release the back seats and lower them, as they will be used as your bench while you work. Also, the C-pillars must be removed, simply pop out the plastic airbag piece (No worry, airbag is not located here!) and unscrew the Torx screw. Pull inwards rather strongly so that the two clips pop out with a snapping sound.

Step 2
Remove the expanding rivet and the screw located in the lower latch of the trunk to allow felt covering to be pulled away from the seat belt housing. Remove the housing cover by unscrewing the the nut/screw at the lower section hidden behind the felt. Then release the two expanding rivets and pull the housing down the seat belt out of the way. Repeat for the other side.

Step 3
Remove the 5 expanding rivets along the shelf where the rear seats latch. Then remove the plastic top to the hooks sticking up on the top of the shelf and use a Torx screwdriver to remove the large screws holding the shelf in place. These are hidden in these hooks. After this, remove the speaker wires by simply pulling them out of the socket. Once these are out, the shelf can be pulled back to reveal the foam underneath and the rear vent.

Step 4
After unscrewing the module which is on top of the foam (which you will need a very short screwdriver or socket), the foam is removed and the rear vent can accessed. Unscrew the four screws holding the vent in and you can pull it out to work on it!

Step 5
Felt the hell out of the thing! All contact points should be felted, and though it will be a little resistant putting it back in, it will be possible to fit and screw back in to place. Felt any contact points where screws or rivets go in just to provide some peace of mind and having to take apart the rear again (like I did).

A note of caution, you will be uncomfortable for most of this. There is a lot of neck strain as well as contorting the body. Might be a good move to stretch first! =)
Please post any questions and I will elaborate and edit this post.

So this absolutely works! I just drove after the car was sitting in the sun (when all of the problems happen), and I had no creaks whatsoever. Not a sound from the shelf or C pillars or anything, even through dips and around fast corners. I replaced the clips in the C pillars and felted every exposed surface. So glad it was worth the time!

So this absolutely works! I just drove after the car was sitting in the sun (when all of the problems happen), and I had no creaks whatsoever. Not a sound from the shelf or C pillars or anything, even through dips and around fast corners. I replaced the clips in the C pillars and felted every exposed surface. So glad it was worth the time!

Thank you so much for putting this up. Do u have more pictures of exactly where u felted it?

Also, where did u buy the felt and tape? I didn't see anything like that at home depot. Only the weatherstripping.

What exactly was your problem? Road noise or just the creaking? And where exactly was the creaking coming from? Only vent I know of is inside the trunk. Thx.

I would get creaking over uneven surfaces and on turns, any time there was any torsional stress on the car. Also, it seems that the rear vent (located behind the parcel shelf right below the rear window) makes a popping noise with temperature change. Many people complain of the cold causing rattle; for me it is the direct sun warmth. Anytime it would sit in the sun, the whole back of the car interior seemed to come alive with creaking, popping, and rattling. Lots of plastic on plastic that would expand with the heat and produce a shuffling noise. I want it to sound vault-like, and when I removed the interior trim, it was. Putting it back, I made sure all surfaces were felted that would contact other plastic or metal surfaces.

Thank you so much for putting this up. Do u have more pictures of exactly where u felted it?

Also, where did u buy the felt and tape? I didn't see anything like that at home depot. Only the weatherstripping.

Home depot only has the weatherstripping. I asked for felt tape and they sent me to the paint section, so I left. I ordered it on amazon (see link) and it came in 2 or 3 days here in LA. I applied felt to all edged surfaces of the rear vent behind the parcel shelf, as well as the raised ridges on the underneath and where the screws meet. Anywhere that will have contact with another surface.

Also where exactly do u pull on the c pillars to pop it off and what direction to pull it? I'm afraid to break the clips.

Can u use a picture and draw arrows on where to pry it? Do u just pry it with your hands? Or a tool?

You unscrew the bolt behind the plastic airbag clip on the pillar cover and then pry in towards the center of the car. You will need to tug pretty hard, and if you do break a clip, dealerships stock them usually and they cost maybe $.50 each. I ordered several to replace some worn clips from Tischer. Once unscrewed, I usually grasped the top part of the pillar cover that meets the headliner and pulled in towards the 3rd brake light I guess. i felted all contact areas of these panels too, just any of the exposed white plastic just in case!

Just wanted to thank you for this writeup! I followed it last month and the rear parcel rattle I had in my 2011 e92 has been gone since. Only issue I had was removing the C-pillars, both sides would not budge no matter how hard I tugged and yanked...I decided to blow dry the whole thing to heat it up a bit (as I was working in a -15 deg C garage) and was able to yank it out after.

Thank you so much for this step by step DIY. This issue is driving me crazy: the back end rattles so muuuch in cold Quebec winter, as it does in warm summer.
One thing is still obscure to me: where did you put the weatherstripping?

I asked this question on a seperate thread as well, but I'll ask it here too.

I have a squeak in the back somewhere that gets significantly louder when any of the back seats are folded down. Does that sound like this problem? I'd like to have an idea before I rip into the back shelf

I have a 2011 335 Coupe E92, and I will use this DIY to remove the parcel shelf to perfect my tinting process... Last night I spent hours trying to get the d&^#% shelf off and failed. I didn't know how to get the C pillar covers off. This helps a LOT! I will try again later tonight... Only thing I see different though, is the black hooks on the shelf don't seem to have any bolt. I wonder if they just pull off? I also have no speakers back there...

Thank you for this tutorial, it was a real time saver on my 2008 328i Coupe. I noticed that I had a slight difference in my procedure which sounds like something the previous poster was asking about.

I have two flip up tabs on top of my rear deck that appear to have no screws. My first thought was that there is a tab in there that needs to be pulled out however the notch to pull it out was almost non existent. It didn't seem like it was intended to be removed but after failing multiple times with my finger nails I decided to try a pick tool instead which to my surprised revealed the screw I had been looking for. Pics attached for reference.

The most annoying creaks in my car are now gone, it is amazing how satisfying the results are.